“I say this with the greatest concern that even in this place (London) our Hindustanis do not stay within their limits and never forget to display their crude sordidness. This is especially shocking to those Punjabi Sikhs who against grave odds managed to salvage the honour of the Hindustani womenfolk from the Pathan invaders by spilling their own blood.

Now the progeny of those who owed their lives to us constantly presses the Sikhs in Britain to relinquish their unique identity and considers it their dharam to get as many Sikhs to shave their long hair off as they can. This is considered an essential mission by the Arya-Samajis.

The native Englishmen never advise Sikhs to not keep their hair uncut but the Arya-Samajis, upon hearing that a practicing Sikh lives at any specific place, ensure to reach and lecture them that “keshon ka yaha rakhna fazool hai, hum log vehshi samjhe jaate hai” (“keeping uncut hair is pointless here, we Indians are looked upon as savages”).

Because of their persistent attempts many newcomers have shed their identity and had their heads and faces shaven, but they who are convinced by their teachings are impressionable and irresolute men.”
- Excerpt from a letter of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha dated 14 July, 1907 for his brother Meehan Singh Dhillon, during his Britain trip acting as ambassador for Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha.